One man's opinion about the future of Medicare

The following Op-Ed appears in the June 29, 2011 New York Times, Opinion Section

The “roar” and “popular political crusade” that Frederick R. Lynch calls for in “How AARP Can Get Its Groove Back” (Op-Ed, June 24) appear to be only a slightly veiled call on the elderly to resist any and all significant cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

That might be possible with Social Security, but policy analysts have for years shown that a sustainable financial future for Medicare will require a sharp cut in benefits, and no less necessary for deficit reduction.

That need will of necessity be painful, but need not be disastrous: more money has never guaranteed good health care.

Moreover, a continued rise in Medicare costs will have to be paid for by the children of the beneficiaries.

As someone who has reached the age of 80, I would hope that if there is any wisdom at all among my peer group, it will be to recognize that our duty is more to those coming after us than to ourselves. We have made it to old age, and if AARP can bring about a sober dialogue between the young and us about how best to allocate resources fairly while saving Medicare, that would not be a roar, but common civic sense.

DANIEL CALLAHAN
Garrison, N.Y., June 24, 2011

The writer is president emeritus of the Hastings Center and the author of “Setting Limits: Medical Goals in an Aging Society.”

"Mr. Callahan offers a sound and common sense approach sans the usual scare tactics." Patricia Grace